During Hurricane Sandy, several hospitals closed due to flooding and loss of power, putting some patients at risk without specialized equipment to help with their medical condition.

Aldo Silvera, founder and owner of Home Medical Specialties, made sure to help out.

“It’s important to get people what they need,” he said.

Originally from Colombia, Aldo, 55, moved to New York City in 1971 where he later began work as a respiratory therapist at New York University and New York Presbyterian Hospital at the Columbia Medical Center in Manhattan and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx.

In 1997, he decided to venture into the homecare sector, providing medical equipment for such conditions as emphysema, lung disorders, and sleep apnea.

“That’s when I decided to take the plunge,” Silvera said, which he started out of a two-bedroom apartment in Queens. “And from there, it’s been going ever since.”

With the hurricane, Silvera stressed the importance of getting much-needed supplies out to clients throughout the five boroughs, especially those that did not have power but relied on specialized equipment for medical reasons.

With the help of work technicians, the company sent out staff to provide rechargeable batteries for products and oxygen tanks for clients, among other products.

“They went to these places with flashlights,” Silvera said, referring to areas without power. “It’s what we do.”

Looking towards the future, Silvera said he is hoping to sell new products online and possibly add another line of business. “We’re definitely hoping to expand.”

For more information about Home Medical Specialties, 56-44 59th St., visit their website.